I (Lily Lemmer) am going to be at the AlterConf Minneapolis event! I work at LeadPages and they’re hosting so it’s awfully convenient for me! Here’s a short bit about Alterconf:

AlterConf provides safe opportunities for marginalized people and those who support them in the tech and gaming industries to learn from and encourage one another. By highlighting the powerful voices and positive initiatives of local community members, we build hope and strengthen the community’s resolve to create safer, healthier spaces for everyone.

The official title of the talk is “Trans Code: Free software as model & critique of diversity by transgender hackers.” In summary, we’ll be talking about transgender women using free software as a tool for liberation, challenging mainstream diversity initiatives. I’m sharing ethnographic stories of this community of trans women (Hypatia Software Organization), which I lead.

I’m excited to show how free software can make a lasting impact for the woefully under-privileged. I’m also excited to share our experience, goals, and determination. Above all, I am excited that these things will be absorbed and propagated by influencers in free software. More free software developers and free software through empowering the underprivileged.

I’m so excited to show the free software community a diversity initiative model which can be replicated and what the challenges are!